About the Society of American Indian Dentists

 

*      Background

*      In April 1990, six American Indian dentists gathered in Denver, Colorado (with resources provided by the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center) to develop a mission statement and organize a society that would meet the needs of American Indian dentists, dental students, and dental auxiliaries.

 

*      The purpose of this organization is to:

*      promote dental health in the American Indian community

*      encourage American Indian youth to pursue a career in the profession of dentistry

*      serve as a resource for assistance to American Indian students interested in the profession of dentistry

*      provide role-model leadership

*      promote American Indian heritage and traditional values

*      promote and support the unique concerns of American Indian dentists.

*      Membership

*      Type I: American Indian Dentist

*      Type II: Non-Indian Dentist

*      Type III: Dental Auxiliaries

*      Type IV: American Indian Dental Students

*      Type V: Honorary Membership (voted by SAID Members)

 

*      Officers

*      President Emeritus and Founder: Dr. George Blue Spruce, Jr. DDS, MPH (Pueblo)

 

*      President: David L. Smith, DDS (Oneida)

*      Vice President: Craig S. Bruce (Chippewa)

*      Secretary/Treasurer: Ruth Bol

 

*      Board Members

*      Darlene A. Sorrell, DMD (Navajo)

*      Erik L. Nelson, DDS (Choctaw)

*      Stephan R. Roberts, DDS (Kiowa)

*      Clayton Scarzella, DMD (Eskimo)

*      Herman C. Fredenberg, DMD (deceased) (Menominee)

*      Nancy M. Reifel, DDS, MPH (Sioux)

 

*      Annual Meetings

*      The Society of American Indian Dentists (SAID) holds annual meetings each summer usually in association with a dental school and American Indian tribes located in the vicinity of the institution. Meetings have been held at Creighton University, University of Oregon, University of California at Los Angeles, University of Minnesota, and twice at the University of Oklahoma (OU has established the first SAID Student Chapter).

*      The 7th Annual Meeting was held in Albuquerque, New Mexico and was given support by the Director of the Indian Health Service.

*      The 1998 conference was held in Polson, Montana and hosted by the Salish-Kootenai, and Flathead tribes of Montana.

*      The 1999 Annual Meeting was held in Albuquerque, New Mexico in conjunction with the IHS Annual Dental Conference.

*      The 10th Annual Conference of SAID (2000) Was held in Phoenix, AZ with resources provided by the Phoenix Indian Medical Center (IHS). At this Conference, a "Dr. George Blue Spruce, Jr. Scholarship Fund: was established for eligible American Indian Dental Students.

*      The 11th Annual Conference was held in Denver, Colorado hosted by the University of Colorado School of Dentistry June 10-14, 2001

*      The 12th Annual Conference was held in Las Vegas, Nevada, in June 2002.

*      The 13th Annual Conference will be held in Mesa, AZ, June 6-8, 2003

*      The 14th Annual Conference at Polson, Montana

*      The 15th Annual Conference in Albuquerque, NM

*      The 16th Annual Conference in Oklahoma City, OK, May 18th – 21st 2006.

*      The 17th Annual Conference will be held in Mystic Lake, MN, June 7th – 10th, 2007. (Conference Registration Form)